Stratford juniors produce sensational performance at Evesham

STRATFORD Boat Club enjoyed one of their best ever medal hauls on Saturday when competing at the neighbouring Evesham Junior Head over a 1,900m course.

On a day when several course records fell, Stratford crews set an incredible three new records.

Successful Stratford crews included junior 18-year-old girls Imogen North, Lucy Weston, Cassie Bird and Phoebe Winter sculling to victory in a coxless quad and taking 20 seconds off the previous course record and wins for Joe Hodson and Geoffrey Flambert and Katie Phillips and Emily Browne in the 14-year-old boys’ and girls’ double sculls respectively.

Stratford’s 14-year-old girls Gracie Mitchell, Autumn Keil, Jessica Wiesheu, Katie Wellstead and cox Mimi Hill were also victorious in the coxed quadruple sculls category as they set a new record.

In other age groups double sculls gold medals were won by 15-year-old and 16-year-old boys Max Beishon and Isaac Herring, with the latter shaving two seconds off the previous course record.

Esme Booth – rowing a year above her own age group – secured victory in the 18-year-old girls’ single sculls and Lara Davies and Amy Neville also won their WJ15 double scull category.

Coach Dr Graham Collier commented: “All the J14 squad won their categories, which is a marvellous and encouraging achievement for such young athletes.”

Several other Stratford crews competed well, ensuring that winning crews from other clubs worked hard for their medals, whilst Stratford Boat Club were joined by several athletes from their sister Stratford club, King Edward VI School Boat Club.

Coach Mark Holden said: “It was particularly encouraging to see Stratford competing successfully throughout the junior age spectrum, which is testimony to the current good health of the junior section and bodes well for the next few years.”

With the results and money counted from the club’s fund-raising ergothon a fortnight previously, the total distance rowed was 1,327,644m, raising £4,155.

Chairman Stephen Haighton said: “We owe a massive thank you to each and every one who took part in the sponsored 24-hour ergothon to raise money for the club redevelopment.

“Whether people were erging or helping out, the support and the response was quite overwhelming and I am pleased to say this was achieved through hard work, dedication, persistence, sweat and blisters and of course teamwork at its best!

“This puts us within striking distance of the appeal figure for the refurbishment. We just need a few more thousands to reach our target.”

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